How Do I Get The Heck Out Of Brooklyn?

[GeoLes]

I am returning from hip replacemnt surgery 4 months ago. I finally have a relaxed approach and am beginning to find a halfway decent lunge, but for the life of me, I can't seem to get the ball consistly to the right side of the rack (right-handed stoker). I do recognize that I often practice on non-league hours and weekends.

(I practice at a National franchise and they are very big on kiddie parties and recreational bowling on weekends. As a result lanes are frequently untreated for days contributing to the problem. But none-the less, I still seem to favor 1-2 pocket.)

I have tried moving left, Starting further forward, tucking the pinky (which did help), and closing the index finger to add length to the ball, but I consistenly cross Brooklyn side leaving either 5-pin or 6-10.

What am I missing? Other than consulting a bowling coach (in process) , How do I get a handle on this?

[Perrin]

Without changing balls it sounds like you have done everthing you can do... changing lines, changing hand postions, changing speed as much as you can.

one of the tricks I have tried in the past is to literally target a line to try to hit the 3-6 or 6-10 'pocket' just to see if I am subconsiously not throwing the line I intend on the first ball.

I have found when I get to the more extreme ends of conditions, very heavy oil or fried heads my muscle memory works against me.

Because I am trying to alter from my standard shot(A game) by too much. example trying to throw with ~20 rotation instead of my usual ~75 it will work for a bit then when I don't concentrate on it I'll throw with 40-45 because I am used to more rotation than I am trying to throw.

[RobLV1]

Having coached several bowlers who have returned from hip surgery, I have a strong suspicion that you have temporarily lost a whole lot of ball speed. I would suggest that you try using a ball with a higher rg and less surface, or even a lighter weight ball to help you to get it down the lane, until you are able to regain the ball speed that you had before your surgery. Good luck and keep at it. It will come back.

[Mudpuppy]

Sounds a lot to me like ball speed as well and maybe a little bit of angle

[MICHAEL]

We bowled a team last night that had a guy that threw a sweeping strike that hit the 1 and 2 pocket ALL NIGHT LONG! He might have hit the 1, 3 pocket by mistake a couple times! (two finger bowler, right handed)

I have never seen anything like it! He would at some points get a turkey, and even a hambone, but every time he did it was so hard to say,, (NICE SHOT LOL,, I would grind my teeth when saying the customary good shot!) I wanted to say, WHAT EVER, do you ever hit the fricken pocket? His average was around 165, but could get into the 200s!

His team would actually cheer each time,,, saying come on Brooklyn ,,,,, YEA!!!

ONCE we find out the solution to your problem, I am going to print it and stick it in his bag, before I GO CRAZY!!!

(we did beat them 3 out of 4, but they were close, it was a good team, a contender, he was their handicap bowler that would on occasion throw a high game somewhere in Brooklyn!! lol

[Perrin]

I agree on that note. Nothing more annoying than the team that gets lucky brooklyns or strikes through the nose and honestly believe they are throwing good shots.

[RobLV1]

This thread brings up a very interesting topic: what constitutes a good strike? I have recently changed my views on this subject as a result of bowling in an almost-scratch doubles league with my wife. At 155, she has what is by far the lowest average in the league. I asked her to bowl in it with me because I know that she needs to bowl with better bowlers if she wants to improve. Something that I figured out as a result of bowling this league with her, is that because she throws a 13 lb. bowling ball, she has to be absolutely perfect, going only high flush, to carry pocket hits. Because of the deflection of her 13 lb. ball, however, she carrys about 95% of her Brooklyn hits. Is that wrong? Not if it works! She also gets the extra added benefit of driving the bowlers on the other team that think that all strikes have to be perfect pocket hits, absolutely nuts as she strikes out in the 10th frame - all Brooklyn hits. As Wendy Macpherson told me years ago, "If you can get lined up to the point that your pulled shots carry Brooklyn, you've got it made."

Rob Mautner

[Perrin]

This thread brings up a very interesting topic: what constitutes a good strike? I have recently changed my views on this subject as a result of bowling in an almost-scratch doubles league with my wife. At 155, she has what is by far the lowest average in the league. I asked her to bowl in it with me because I know that she needs to bowl with better bowlers if she wants to improve. Something that I figured out as a result of bowling this league with her, is that because she throws a 13 lb. bowling ball, she has to be absolutely perfect, going only high flush, to carry pocket hits. Because of the deflection of her 13 lb. ball, however, she carrys about 95% of her Brooklyn hits. Is that wrong? Not if it works! She also gets the extra added benefit of driving the bowlers on the other team that think that all strikes have to be perfect pocket hits, absolutely nuts as she strikes out in the 10th frame - all Brooklyn hits. As Wendy Macpherson told me years ago, "If you can get lined up to the point that your pulled shots carry Brooklyn, you've got it made."

Rob Mautner

I don't have any issue with someone that plays the brooklyn.

But if in three shots you hit light 'mixer', brooklyn, high flush for a turkey and then complain when your fourth shot through the nose doesn't carry... that drives me bonkers.

[MICHAEL]

This thread brings up a very interesting topic: what constitutes a good strike? I have recently changed my views on this subject as a result of bowling in an almost-scratch doubles league with my wife. At 155, she has what is by far the lowest average in the league. I asked her to bowl in it with me because I know that she needs to bowl with better bowlers if she wants to improve. Something that I figured out as a result of bowling this league with her, is that because she throws a 13 lb. bowling ball, she has to be absolutely perfect, going only high flush, to carry pocket hits. Because of the deflection of her 13 lb. ball, however, she carrys about 95% of her Brooklyn hits. Is that wrong? Not if it works! She also gets the extra added benefit of driving the bowlers on the other team that think that all strikes have to be perfect pocket hits, absolutely nuts as she strikes out in the 10th frame - all Brooklyn hits. As Wendy Macpherson told me years ago, "If you can get lined up to the point that your pulled shots carry Brooklyn, you've got it made."

Rob Mautner

WOW,,, all I can say is,,,, BEAM ME UP SCOTTY, I am going Brooklyn, Bonkers down here!! Last night the team I mention in a previous commit, (I almost passed out from, WTF, 4 in a role!!!) And his team mates are all encouraging him on, I couldn't slap his hand and give him the NICE SHOT common practice..... I .... I had to get up and go anywhere but where I was. This guy is early 30s in good condition, healthy, NO reason for not hitting the pocket! Its not like his average is high, its about 175 or so!

[tccstudent]

As Wendy Macpherson told me years ago, "If you can get lined up to the point that your pulled shots carry Brooklyn, you've got it made."

Rob Mautner

Thats what I love about playing straight up the 5 if I pull it normally you will see a brooklyn

Iceman how bout shooting a 675 series and only hitting pocket 3 times all night. I did that a few months ago.